Slam bam! _ Alomar's hit delights local
fans

Published: July 9, 1997 12:00AM

By Allen Moff
Record-Courier staff writer
CLEVELAND _ Catcher Sandy Alomar has whipped Cleveland Indians fans into
one continuous frenzy since day one of the 1997 Major League Baseball season.
But in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Jacobs Field, Alomar caused a full-fledged
furor.
After taking in the game from the bench for the first five innings, the
Tribe catcher finally strolled to the plate for his only at-bat of the night
with the game tied 1-1 in the seventh.
And, as has been the case all season long, he delivered.
Alomar blasted a 2-2 pitch off San Francisco left-hander Shawn Estes into
the left-field bleachers for a two-run home run that lifted the American
League over the National League 3-1 in front of the largest crowd in Jacobs
Field history, 44,916.
Alomar, who entered the game with an American League-leading .375 batting
average and a 30-game hitting streak, was named MVP of the '97 Midsummer
Classic, the latest accolade earned by the Tribe's four-time All-Star who
can presently do no wrong.
Not on the field, or in the eyes of his adoring fans.
``It was a great game, and it's so appropriate that Alomar was named MVP,''
said Joe Lane, a funeral home owner from Mineral Ridge who attended the
game with fellow season-ticket holder Robert Rusu, an attorney from Canfield.
Lane was still ecstatic afterward, smiling from ear to ear as he recalled
the action. ``Gosh, it all worked out so perfect.''
Indeed, it's hard to imagine a more perfect scenario than the one that unfolded
Tuesday night in Cleveland.
Sandy and his All-Star Game teammate and brother, Roberto (Baltimore Orioles),
dedicated the game to their grandmother, Toni, who died last weekend. Their
parents couldn't attend the game because of her death.
``I've been through a lot in my career, ups and downs and injuries,'' said
Alomar, who spent time on the disabled list five years in a row until last
season. ``But what I learned from my grandmother is to never give up. She
had been sick for a long time, but she kept fighting.''
With his grandmother in his mind and the home town fans on his side, all
the ingredients for a special moment seemed to be in place when Alomar stepped
to the plate.
``But I never thought he'd hit a home run,'' said Vince Cipriano of Ravenna,
who was discussing the game over breakfast at East Park with his friend,
Rob Kortright. ``He's not really what you'd call a power hitter. But he
did it like it should be done. It was picture-perfect.''
Alomar was actually fooled completely by Estes' first two offerings before
he made an adjustment.
``I've seen him on TV, so I know he has good stuff,'' said Alomar. ``I took
the first pitch, a fastball away. Then he threw me a nasty breaking ball
on the second pitch, and I said, `Uh oh.'
``Then, I just told myself to stay back on the ball. And I don't even really
know what pitch I hit, a fastball or change-up, but that's what I did. I
just stayed back and extended.''
Alomar's screaming line drive travelled an estimated 403 feet, triggering
a long, raucous ovation that failed to end even after his teammates pushed
him out of the dugout for a curtain call.
``To do this in an All-Star Game in front of your home crowd is very special,''
said Alomar. ``It's something everybody dreams of. You only get one chance
to play at home in an All-Star Game.''
Alomar's homer put an exclamation point on what turned out to be a fabulous
All-Star weekend for area sports fans and the city of Cleveland.
``It's nice to see the city come off as first-class,'' said Rusu. ``Everything
was well-run, the fans conducted themselves with class ... they proved this
is the comeback city.''
The comeback city with the comeback kid.
``It's great for the town and the local community,'' said Kortright. ``And
Alomar, he's just having a career year.''